Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-04-28
Gem. Sprfog and Cor. Wilson.

of the administration OF the Asylum lOi
the Insane al Weston. A committee was
appointed, of which Gen. Joseph Sprigg'
Of Hardy. was chairman. The committee
consumed fifteen days in laborious invest-
cation and reported-reported adversely to
the administration of that institution by the
then existing Board of Directors and some
rather damaging developments were made
After the committee had finished It's work
the Board of Directors made special re
mort in defense of DR.. Bland, the Superln-
tendent and Of their administration oil the
institutions affairs, which reflected severely
on Gen. Sprigg's committee. Gen. oprgg
in "a late communication tc the Wheeling
Register says:
That Gov. Wilson, who should, above
all others. stand aud act imparually III TINS
matter. has taken sides and allied hluseH
to DR. Bland and his friends, with the de-
liberate purpose Of retaining DR.. Bland In
his present position, in defiance OF the VIII
of the Legislature, IS expressed IN the re-
cent act empowering him to appoint new
BOARD of Directors. In executing that law
he La, complied with its letter and dell0er-
atelv violated its spirit and purpose. With
ont reading the testimony taken before the
committee for il was then in the hands OF
the ,tenographer i'm the city OF Wheeingl
INIT having however, the special report Oe'
fore him. i'm which the committee report Is
characterized rs "unfOunded and uhWar-
ran-ed." he deliberately appointed on the
new Board IRE members of the old 8oard'
thereby constituting the mljortyof the new
Board firorgLle to the election OF DIR. Bland
Under the circumstances 1t wa, una 1uo'eu, =
Iv he duty of the chief executive officer oil
the STATE to appoint a new Board 81 plrec-
tor, composed of gentlemen OF the most
unqueSti0ned character aud standing from
tbe two great political parties OF The state
rho had nor ni pdrqace oppressed their ppm
j9.s ON the subject matter involved. lhe
Governor Is mistaken IL he lmaglneS the
people can be made % believe that the re-
nort of the committee is "uniounded ana
nnv9rranted" because of anything Board
of Directors appointed - this one has been
can saw on the subject The people Will be
Justified I'm bell wing, in the light OF the
facts and circumstances surrounding this
case that the new Board of Directors WAS
appointed expressly with "a view OF retain
inc Dr. Bland regardless of the report OF
the committee. the testimony Ken hy H.,
thc will of the Legislature or his h'neSS TOT
the position.
The people will believe and, | apprehend,
will be Justified i'm be ieviug that Governor
I Wilson. i'm selecting the Democratic mem
| Der, OF the new Board, has been governed
/ bv the identical principles he has 50 vehe-
mentlv condemned in Senator Camden Ii
| Is little remarkable that a gentleman who
has complained 50 bitterly and so recently
of senator Camden for excluding from
Office all Democrats except his personal FOL
lowers. should himself DO the very same
thing the first opportunity that presents IT.
self There is not strange to sly, cam
den Democrat in the new Board. The PEG
pie expect a public man 90 practice the
same high principles he demands from
others.
IL is immalerial 90 M personally wheta-
er DR.. Bland is retained or not. | have not
the slightest feeling of personal malice IN
the matter. on the contrary | feel really sor-
m for him. do. however, feel an interest
Inn the proper conduct of the Hospital and
the future success of the Democratic party.
The Hospital for the Insane Is undoubtedly
the most important institution in the State
IL takes somewhere near One-iourth of the
revenues of the State 10 support II. The
Superintendent should possess the unques-
toned confidence of people of all shades OF
political thought It's government should
be perfectly free from political or partisan
consideration. II there be one place in
the State where all such matter should be
scrupulously excluded that place is the
Hospital for the Insane.
The Democratic party will be held re-
sponsble for the acts of Gov. Wilson's adj
mini,irati0u. If DIR. Blard Is retained in
his present position in the face of the tes-
tim0uv taken before the committee, 10 will
be with the connivance or through the in
,trumenta,ity of Governor Wilson, there
fore The people will hold the Democratic
party responsible therefor. Governor Viii
SON In framing his Observation-Disclosures
Intentional or not is not for me To- c0niec-
ture-caretuIIy excluded from it any men
tioa OF the matters involved in the late in
ye,tigation 40 the Hospital. Since the
names ot thc gentlemen he has appointed
ou the new Board have been made public
am afraid people will conclude he excluded
this subject from hi, proclamation IN the
interest of Dr. Bland